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In Today's Hotline: Read how UMCOR is responding to needs around the world: US: Oklahoma Tornado Response;SIERRE LEONE: A Gift for Malaria Prevention; DRC: AIDS Education; US:Eco-Palm Benefits; RESOURCES: One Great Hour of Sharing
Last week, a half-mile wide tornado tore through parts of Oklahoma, destroying several homes, killing eight people and injuring numerous others. The tornado caused destruction along a 25-mile swath of land.
UMCOR is working the Oklahoma Annual Conference, First United Methodist Church in Ardmore, and Lindsay United Methodist Church in Lindsay, Oak., to assist in recovery. The Rev. Mary Gaudreau from the Oklahoma Conference is facilitating response action as UMCOR's disaster response consultant. First UMC is helping to coordinate Early Response Teams and more than 40 volunteers who are ready to help.
UMCOR is assisting with case management work, repairs, rebuilds and provide spiritual and emotional care support. You can help in recovery by giving to Domestic Disaster Response, UMCOR Advance #901670.
SIERRE LEONE: A GIFT FOR MALARIA PREVENTION
A generous gift of approximately $130,000 from the German Central Conference will provide mosquito nets in a national net campaign to take place in Sierra Leone this November. The gift to Nothing But Nets builds on the conference's long-standing relationship in Sierra Leone. UMCOR and other United Methodist representatives met with the Ministry of Health in Sierre Leone to discuss how the generous gift will be used to combat malaria.
"This is an excellent example of how United Methodists join hands in response to God's mission of health and healing," said the Rev. Sam Dixon, UMCOR's deputy general secretary for UMCOR and Global Health.
Malaria, a preventable disease, affects 500 million people worldwide--90% of whom live in sub-Sahara Africa. The disease kills one child every 30 seconds. UMCOR's Community-Based Malaria Control program helps provide community training, education, nets and low cost medications to those in need. Support this work by giving to Community-Based Malaria Control, UMCOR Advance #982009 or to give to Nothing But Nets click here.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), AIDS education is expanding its reach thanks to an UMCOR-supported program led by Dr. Guy Kansanka, a Global Ministries' missionary working with the Global Health Initiative in the North Katanga Annual Conference.
In June, a multi-targeted HIV/AIDS prevention project in Kamina (DRC) reached students, soldiers, church goers and local authorities through HIV/AIDS education, counseling, HIV/AIDS rapid testing, radio announcements and seminars. Over 5,800 individuals received life sustaining information. The project focused on changing sexual behavior and educating people about the importance of testing, counseling and abstinence.
You can help prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS by supporting programs like these. Give to the United Methodist Global AIDS Fund, UMCOR Advance #982345.
Purchasing Eco-Palms benefits the environment, empowers small-scale farmers and creates local jobs while helping rural communities prosper.
The harvesting of Eco-Palms preserves the vitality of forests in places like Guatemala and lessens the risk of these forests from being converted into agricultural fields. Buying Eco-palms directly from the grower eliminates the need for a contractor and allows for more money to stay within harvesting communities. It also increases employment opportunities for women and helps them support their families.
Palm Sunday is April 5. Why not purchase your Eco-Palms today? Visit www.ecopalms.org to place your order online. The deadline for ordering Eco-Palms is March 2. You may also download an Eco-Palm Sunday church bulletin or power point slide to share with your local congregation. Give to UMCOR-SA&D, Advance #982188 which supports small-scale farmers.
RESOURCES: ONE GREAT HOUR OF SHARING VIDEO
Darryl Tate, executive director of disaster response for the Louisiana United Methodist Church, knows first hand the impact and significance of the One Great Hour of Sharing offering. He worked closely with UMCOR in recovery efforts from disasters like Hurricane Katrina and Ike.
In UMCOR's new One Great Hour of Sharing video, Tate shares the importance of the One Great Hour of Sharing offering. The video highlights examples of how the offering allows needs to be met around the world.
Because of gifts made to the One Great Hour of Sharing offering, UMCOR's administrative costs are covered. Therefore, 100 percent of gifts made to a specific UMCOR project can be spent on the designated project.
One Great Hour of Sharing is March 22, 2009. Download the video now and share with your local congregation. Please give now.
UMCOR provides emergency relief in many areas of the world. To find out more about UMCOR's ministries, please visit umcor.org. You can donate to any project by placing a contribution in the offering plate at a local United Methodist church; by sending a check to UMCOR, PO Box 9068, New York, NY 10087-9068; or by calling 1-800-554-8583, where credit card donations are accepted. You can also give online at givetomission.org. UMCOR is exempt from tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of the United States and qualifies for the maximum charitable contribution deduction by donors.
United Methodist Committee on Relief
General Board of Global Ministries, The United Methodist Church
Room 330, 475 Riverside Drive, New York, NY 10115
Voice Phone: 1-212-870-3816; FAX: 1-212-870-3624
Email: umcor@gbgm-umc.org
Web: http://www.umcor.org
UMCOR. Be There. Be Hope.
UMCOR's mission is to alleviate human suffering-whether caused by war, conflict, or natural disaster-with open minds and hearts to all people.
[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]
